Grace Lutheran Church plans 24x24-foot accessory garage; Plan Commission approves with conditions

The Plan Commission approved site and architectural plans for a 24-by-24-foot accessory garage at Grace Lutheran Church, 8537 South Pennsylvania Avenue, to provide additional storage for the church’s school. Approval was granted with standard conditions including compliance with applicable code requirements, submittal of updated architectural plans prior to permit application, and a 12-month expiration if no building permit is issued.

Todd, the Community Development presenter, said the property is zoned I-1 institutional and that the accessory garage would be 576 square feet and 12 feet tall, accessed via an 18-by-10-foot concrete driveway within the existing parking area. The applicant, Tony Miranda of 7675 South Pennsylvania Avenue, told the commission the structure is intended for storage to support school growth and that the design was revised to a single garage door and a service door at the rear to reduce cost; Miranda said the change from two doors to one was due to cost constraints and to address budget pressures.

Staff said the proposed siding, roof form, lighting and foundation landscaping meet district requirements and that the applicant will remove an on-site basketball hoop and associated markings. Commissioners requested updated architectural drawings; the commission added a condition that revised plans be submitted before permit application. The commission recorded no objections and approved the site and architectural plans with the stated conditions.

The applicant must submit updated architectural plans and secure required permits; construction may not proceed until a building permit is issued and the plan-commission conditions are satisfied.